Pitt Meadows rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs
What are the rules for aggressive or dangerous dogs?
Short answer
In the City of Pitt Meadows a Bylaw Enforcement Officer can declare a dog aggressive or vicious. Owners then pay a $250 or $500 annual licence fee, use a short leash, get training and confine the dog. For an attack, call the RCMP non-emergency line, 778-670-9010.
Key facts
| How a dog is declared dangerous or aggressive | A Bylaw Enforcement Officer decides, from their own observation or reports they find credible. Aggressive dog: caused minor injury, unprovoked pursuit or harassment, or likely to cause injury. Vicious dog: has seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to kill or seriously injure. Owner may ask the Director to reconsider within 30 days.https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, ss. 2.1, 6.1, 6.4, 7.1; https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 7.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghas caused minor injury to a person or Domestic Animal; has seriously injured a person or a Domestic Animal; or may determine that a Dog is an Aggressive Dog as defined by this bylaw Within thirty (30) days of receipt of written notice of an Aggressive Dog Within 30 days of receipt of a Vicious Dog designation, the Owner may |
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| Rules for owners | Pay the licence fee and microchip or tattoo the dog within 7 days; hire a certified trainer within 30 days and finish 3 sessions within 3 months. In public: on a leash (1 m maximum, no retractable) held by a capable person, never in off-leash areas; vicious dogs also muzzled. At home: confined indoors, in a locked enclosure, leashed, or in a fenced area. Vicious dogs need warning signs.https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 6.3; https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 7.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingattend at City Hall within seven (7) days of receiving the written notice within three (3) months, provide written confirmation from a certified Dog trainer not cause, permit, or allow the Dog to enter any Off-Leash Area; and display a clearly visible Vicious Dog sign at all points of entry unless the Vicious Dog is muzzled and secured on a leash to its Owner |
| Licence fee | Aggressive dog $250; vicious dog $500 (annual licence fee).https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, Schedule A ss. 5-6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog Licensing Fee for an Aggressive Dog is $250.00. Dog Licensing Fee for a Vicious Dog is $500.00. |
| How to report | For a dangerous dog attack, call the RCMP non-emergency line, 778-670-9010. For concerns about dogs, contact Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.Dog Licences, Animal Safety · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingContact the RCMP non-emergency number at 778-670-9010. For concerns about dogs in Pitt Meadows, contact our Bylaws department at 604-465-2428. |
| Fine | Bylaw notices: dog causes injury to a person or animal $400. Aggressive-dog breaches mostly $400 (permanent ID $150; leash over 1 m or retractable leash $200). Vicious-dog breaches mostly $500 ($300 for licence, ID, sign, loss of control or leash rules). Court: $2,000 to $50,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated), Schedule A, Dog Control Bylaw; https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, s. 9.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDog causes injury to a 5.1(d) n/a 400 n/a Fail to leash aggressive dog 6.3(e) n/a 400 n/a Use of a leash in excess of 6.7 n/a 200 n/a Fail to leash and muzzle a 7.3(f) n/a 500 n/a Use of a leash in excess 7.7 n/a 300 n/a Fail to provide 6.3(b) n/a 150 n/a Fail to purchase an aggressive Fail to leash aggressive dog penalty not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) and not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for each offence |
| Bylaw | Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDOG CONTROL BYLAW Bylaw No. 2968, 2023 |
How it works
Under the Dog Control Bylaw No. 2968, 2023, a Bylaw Enforcement Officer decides, from their own observation or reports they find credible. An aggressive dog has caused minor injury, pursued or harassed unprovoked, or is likely to cause injury. A vicious dog has seriously injured a person or animal, or is likely to kill or seriously injure. The owner may ask the Director to reconsider within 30 days.
Owner rules
- Pay the licence fee and microchip or tattoo the dog within 7 days.
- Hire a certified trainer within 30 days and finish 3 sessions within 3 months.
- In public, keep the dog on a leash (1 m maximum, no retractable) held by a capable person, never in off-leash areas. Vicious dogs must also be muzzled.
- At home, keep the dog confined indoors, in a locked enclosure, leashed, or in a fenced area. Vicious dogs need warning signs.
Good to know
- Tell the City within 3 days if the dog is moved, sold or transferred, and immediately if it is at large.
- An aggressive dog's status can be cancelled after 6 months if conditions are met; a vicious dog can be downgraded to aggressive after 1 year.
- A locked pen must be at least 3 m x 1.5 m x 1.5 m and 1.2 m from the property line.
- Bylaw notices: dog causes injury $400; aggressive-dog breaches mostly $400 (permanent ID $150; leash over 1 m or retractable leash $200); vicious-dog breaches mostly $500 ($300 for licence, ID, sign, loss of control or leash rules). Court penalty $2,000 to $50,000.
- The bylaw also refers to a "dangerous dog" under the Community Charter (s. 49), which allows seizure and a Provincial Court order.
- Concerns about dogs: Bylaw Services, 604-465-2428.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Coquitlam · Anmore · Port Moody · Belcarra
Sources
- https://www.pittmeadows.ca/sites/default/files/2024-01/Dog%20Control%20Bylaw%20No.%202968%2C%202023.pdf (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Dog Licences, City of Pitt Meadows (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2439, 2009 (consolidated) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.